Could it really be five years already since the launch of Ticker? Australia’s first-to-market FAST (Free Ad-supported Streaming Television) news and business network launched in mid-2019.
Founder and CEO Ahron Young told Mediaweek that, across those years, Ticker has grown its audience and revenue, and built a strong management team along the way.
“We’ve learned a lot in the last five years,” he said about the business, whose early challenges included navigating Covid.
Not every move has been a winner. But the platform has been nimble enough to move quickly to adapt. “The TV industry and the tech sector have changed rapidly, so it’s been like learning to ice skate during an earthquake while a tsunami warning has been issued,” said Young.
See also: Ticker launches five FAST channels with new programs on a new app
Ticker milestones and highlights
• Audience growth: Young explained the audience has grown 35% year-on-year with increased programming and distribution. Ticker is the main Australian-based news channel on Fetch TV. It has added additional streaming platforms in the US, Europe, and Asia. The network recently renewed its agreement with Foxtel Group’s Hubbl and Flash.
• Revenue: Ticker’s FAST revenue continues to grow from its global distribution deals, climbing 17% year-on-year.
• New website: After a major upgrade, the website leans into a TV first, Netflix-like experience which Young said focuses on the live channels and shows. The Ticker App has also been redesigned, featuring five FAST channels, including the Airport Economist channel, hosted by Prof Tim Harcourt.
• B2B-B2C commercial strategy caters to both B2B and B2C markets. Young: “CEOs and marketing directors come to Ticker to help produce insightful content that plays well across our network and theirs.”
• Marketing expertise: Kane Ricca joined Ticker this year as marketing director. “Kane brings to Ticker innovative strategies from global brands to elevate our growth,” said Young.
“As Ticker celebrates its fifth birthday in August, we remain committed to investing in premium, original content and a unique viewing experience for a global audience,” added Ricca.
Ticker’s Kane Ricca
Distribution and content
Ticker continues to add global distributors each month. Additions this year include Comcast Xumo, SlingTV, and FreeCast TV in the US. There are also two new distributors across India.
A round-up of Ticker programming includes:
In America Today with Veronica Dudo is a daily show from New York focusing on the forthcoming US election.
Hot Shots with Ahron Young focuses on the big stories in news, tech and business. Ticker Now is hosted by Mike Loder on weekdays, with a focus on tech, money and entertainment.
Ahron & Mike LIVE is hosted by Mike Loder and Ahron Young, with a mix of the content they love to talk about.
“We aren’t a content aggregator,” said Young. “We heavily invest in producing original programs and documentaries every day. Even though FAST is new, distributors demand established, experienced presenters and a polished product. That’s what Ticker delivers.”
Ticker programming
Ticker and tech
Young said that in 2024, Ticker continues to invest heavily in technology, introducing new studio cameras, microphones and lighting, and launching new portals supported by AI to facilitate dozens of guest appearances each day.
Young has recently been invited to speak in New York at industry events for American broadcasters about positioning and financial strategy. The other panel members at the NAB Show in New York were Jennifer Donohue, SVP of Disney advertising sales, Sonali Pathak, SVP, business development and strategy, local, at NBCUniversal, Adam Ostrow, chief digital officer at Tegna, and Tom Sly, VP of enterprise strategy at The E.W. Scripps Co.
Ahron Young on a panel talking about Ticker at the National Association of Broadcasters annual NAB Show earlier this year
Young said: “I’m really excited by where Ticker is today. We have bootstrapped this company from startup five years ago, without any seed funding or major investment, and grown our revenue organically, by listening to our clients and building a platform that works.”
Top image: Platform anchors Ahron Young, Veronica Dudo, and Mike Loder